Updated April 18, 2026, 7:32 p.m. CT
- Former Alabama soccer coach Nick Saban is reportedly helping the Nashville Predators in their seek for a brand new common supervisor.
- Saban, a minority proprietor of the workforce, has been involved in in-person interviews with candidates.
- The Predators are interviewing a number of assistant common managers from different NHL groups for the place.
As the Nashville Predators proceed their seek for a brand new common supervisor, they could be getting some assist from former Alabama football coach Nick Saban.
According to a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Saban has been helping majority proprietor Bill Haslam throughout current in-person interviews.
“I believe that in this round of in person (interviews), Nick Saban’s played a pretty big role,” Friedman mentioned throughout an April 17 episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast.” “I think he’s asking questions, I think he’s sizing up the candidates.”
A consultant for the Predators advised The Tennessean on April 18 that they might not launch any particulars on their GM search, together with potential candidates or the place they’re in the method.
Saban grew to become minority owner of the Predators in December, buying a stake in the workforce alongside enterprise accomplice Joe Agresti by means of Dream Sports Ventures LLC. After retiring as coach of Alabama in 2024, Saban grew to become a part of the ESPN “College GameDay” crew earlier than exhibiting curiosity in sports activities possession. He additionally was part of Haslam’s bid in 2025 to carry a WNBA growth franchise to Nashville.
When present Predators GM Barry Trotz introduced his retirement on Feb. 2, Haslam initially employed CAA to assist information the search. That did not final lengthy — CAA withdrew from the search a week later, citing a possible battle of curiosity — however Haslam additionally talked about on Feb. 2 that the workforce’s search course of would contain a number of inside voices, together with Saban’s.
Haslam additionally mentioned he desires to make the rent in time for the NHL draft in June, however ideally by someday in May.
Included in Friedman’s report was information that the workforce has interviewed present Predators assistant GM Jeff Kealty, Carolina Hurricanes assistant GM Darren Yorke, Florida Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson, Edmonton Oilers assistant GM Bill Scott and New York Rangers assistant GM Ryan Martin. The Predators are also anticipated to interview former New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat author for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also take a look at our Predators unique Instagram web page @tennessean_preds.
